Smyrna, GA: What It's Like to Live Here

A townhouse in Smyrna, GA, not far from the cities various small parks and walking trails.

With a population of about 51,000, Smyrna, Ga. is one of
many communities lying outside the perimeter of Atlanta's downtown. Its
location attracts families, thanks to its access to the city's amenities while
providing a more affordable range of housing options than can be found closer
to downtown. And if you don't feel like going into the "big city" for
something to do, you don't have to: With its walking trails, parks, shopping
and dining village in addition to its festivals, Smyrna offers plenty to do.

Smyrna, GA in Depth

Known as The Jonquil City, Smyrna is located in Cobb County,
about 10 miles northwest of Atlanta. It is sometimes referred to
"Smynings" by locals, thanks to its proximity to the unincorporated
community of Vinings. The city offers residents who commute to and from downtown
Atlanta easy access to the Perimeter, or Interstate 285, via Atlanta Road SE, Paces
Ferry Road SE or Spring Road SE.

If you're looking for a place to live in Smyrna, you'll find
a lot more options than you will in the neighborhoods closer to downtown, from
condominiums to million-dollar estates. Smyrna's children attend Cobb County
Public Schools or one of several private schools nearby.

Residents enjoy shopping in the city's Market Village area,
developed in 1991 with the goal of creating a more defined downtown. Amenities
include a community center, public library and retail and residential
development. West Village on Atlanta Road also offers a number of shops and
restaurants, surrounded by pedestrian-friendly streets.

Smyrna is also home to a number of special events throughout
the year. Market Village has open-air concerts and festivals, including the
Spring and Fall Jonquil Festival each April and October. Your family can attend
Casper's Friendly Castle, a Halloween party for children, and Santa Claus'
special welcome into the holiday season, complete with the lighting of a large
Christmas tree on the Village Green.

The city's 10-acre Taylor-Brawner Park, has a playground,
gazebos, walking trails and amphitheater. The park is also home to two restored
historic buildings. The Taylor-Brawner House onsite is available for special
events, and Brawner Hall, a former mental hospital, now houses a couple of city
departments and has meeting rooms available for rent.

Smyrna is also home to part of the Silver Comet Trail, a Rails
to Trails project that provides a motorcar-free paved trail for bicyclists,
walkers, joggers, inline skaters and horseback riders. The trail travels from
Smyrna west for about 61 miles to the Georgia/Alabama state line, following the
abandoned railroad line once traveled by the Silver Comet Passenger train.

Smyrna leaders continue to work toward the city's
economic development. The city recently purchased and tore down a crime-ridden,
94-building apartment complex, and the 48-acre site is slated for redevelopment.
Another new project, an 82-acre mixed-use development called Riverview Landing,
is planned along the Chattahoochee River.